Football: Practice violation costs Atholton first game of 2011

Atholton's football team, which has gone 18-5 with a pair of playoff appearances since coach Kyle Schmitt took over in 2009, will start the 2011 season with a loss.

The Raiders will forfeit the first game — Sept. 2 at Glenelg — because of a self-reported practice violation.

According to a press release distributed by the Howard County Public School System, Atholton notified the Maryland Public Schools Athletic Association of the violation on July 12.

Before notifying the MPSSAA, Atholton reported that it had held a practice, with coaches present, a week before summer practices were allowed, according to Mike Williams, the HCPSS coordinator of athletics.

"A rule was broken and we reported the violation to Mr. Williams immediately," Atholton principal Jennifer Clements said in a statement.

Williams then forwarded the report to the MPSSAA along with recommended sanctions, which were upheld.

Schmitt accepted full responsibility for the violation.

"I misinterpreted the rule, and it is clearly my mistake," he said. "Our players, parents and administration were unaware of any wrongdoing."

On the evening of Friday, Sept. 2, Atholton will travel to Glenelg and play its season-opening football game in front of the community, under the lights and with referees on the field.

"The game will be played in good faith so that both our students and Glenelg's students get full benefit of their participation in the interscholastic athletic program," said Atholton athletics and activities manager Mike Senisi.

No matter what the scoreboard reads at the end of the game, however, Glenelg will earn a win and Atholton will take a loss.

"The school administration, coaches, students and community understand that an education-based athletic program learns and grows from every experience," Williams said.